Ill be taking a little road trip in about a month. I like to be prepared. When crossing state lines I usually carry a machete or a baseball bat. Front seat, hotel room, etc...
I used to have two guns. A mosin nagant, and a ruger sr40c. I had to sell both to pay for rent. I can buy the ruger back, though. I used to conceal carry it daily. In arizona you don't need a permit to do that.
When I went to a meet up for the forum I brought my hand gun. I even slept with it lol. Can't be too sure with THD or Timeasylums. I'm not the gun nut I once was, but I still like shooting and it would be nice to have a gun again.
Don't really need a weapon in metropolitan Australia. Not unless you're asking for trouble, at least. Or appear to be weak or are part of an ethnic minority (which is pretty sad, really).
Rural Australia is a bit different. I was raised in the middle of nowhere, and although I never felt any need to carry a weapon, I know a lot of people who do. That said, I've had to talk my way out of a number of dangerous situations (some involving weapons), and had a few physical altercations, but never ones involving weapons (usually drunken idiots or white trash).
But as you move further into Crocodile Dundee territory, weapons become more and more common, I believe. I'm not sure on that one though.
Don't really need a weapon in metropolitan Australia. Not unless you're asking for trouble, at least. Or appear to be weak or are part of an ethnic minority (which is pretty sad, really).
Rural Australia is a bit different. I was raised in the middle of nowhere, and although I never felt any need to carry a weapon, I know a lot of people who do. That said, I've had to talk my way out of a number of dangerous situations (some involving weapons), and had a few physical altercations, but never ones involving weapons (usually drunken idiots or white trash).
But as you move further into Crocodile Dundee territory, weapons become more and more common, I believe. I'm not sure on that one though.
As a kid I was in a lot of fights. Since becoming a "grown up" I've not even been close. I think about how to get out of it all the time. I know I can fight, I trust jiu jitsu completely. But I also know for a fact I dont want to get involved in anything I dont have to.
The States are similar. Our cities have plenty of guns, but the more rural it gets the more common guns get.
I carried knives when I was a teen, as I had more danger in my life, and thought that was the solution. I had a couple of them confiscated as well. Apparently, there were laws in Oregon regarding either minors carrying weapons or having switchblades. I also remember some talk about blades over so many inches.
Now, I don't carry any weapons. Largely because the only weapon I can use with any skill is a bow, and they aren't super convenient. Anyway, I figure that carrying a weapon I've no skill in using is about as stupid as handing said weapon to would-be assailants.
As a kid I was in a lot of fights. Since becoming a "grown up" I've not even been close. I think about how to get out of it all the time. I know I can fight, I trust jiu jitsu completely. But I also know for a fact I dont want to get involved in anything I dont have to.
The States are similar. Our cities have plenty of guns, but the more rural it gets the more common guns get.
People don't see me as a target anymore. They did until I was about 20 and I started to fill out a bit. I became even less a target when I took up bodybuilding. Now all my muscle intimidation is gone (lost it all when I fell ill for an extended period) but now I have a gnarly beard and crazy eyes to intimidate with. The decade of martial arts training helps with street confidence. I've noticed that people don't generally attack you when you show no fear. Violent people choose easy targets. They're cowards, really.
That's something I've encountered as well. Even if you're on the lower end of the intimidation scale, confidence and the appearance of comfort in "risky" environments is better defense than a crowbar in your hands. Which is good, because I go into high-crime areas almost daily to provide in-home counseling to clients with no transportation.
That's something I've encountered as well. Even if you're on the lower end of the intimidation scale, confidence and the appearance of comfort in "risky" environments is better defense than a crowbar in your hands. Which is good, because I go into high-crime areas almost daily to provide in-home counseling to clients with no transportation.
While that may be a small part of it a lot of it is correlated with certain minorities or oppressed groups or in gang violence. Criminals try to avoid people and steal when you are not around.
Arguably an oppressed group is likely to exert less confidence in their surroundings...
While that may be a small part of it a lot of it is correlated with certain minorities or oppressed groups or in gang violence. Criminals try to avoid people and steal when you are not around.
Arguably an oppressed group is likely to exert less confidence in their surroundings...
That depends heavily on the dynamics of the environment. For example, living in poor, largely Hispanic neighborhoods in Oregon, yes your statement makes sense. There was less violence and more theft. While sometimes "Brown Power" would be be left in spray paint on a garage after it was stripped of all its contents (even items that were bolted to the fucking concrete), it was predominantly "just business".
Then we have Overtown in Miami, where you run the risk of very confrontational crimes like mugging, assault, murder, and rape. However, whether it's a racial issue is debatable. If you walk, talk, and move about as comfortably as someone who lives there, your chances of victimization plummet, regardless of color.
Where I live now, when I was living in St. Louis, and obviously working in the prison, acting uncomfortable around people of other demographics is a guarantee that you will be in an uncomfortable situation.
There's a bully-sport I've seen practiced, by those looking to blow off steam, and identify whether someone "doesn't belong". I've observed it often enough to recognize a clear formula.
Someone, usually a man, but sometimes a woman or a small group, will start acting "off the chain" (usually with little regard for personal space), and wait for someone to appear uncomfortable. Most of the time, the discomfort is expressed by increasing their walking speed, tensing up, and/or pretending to ignore the impossible-to-ignore stimuli. Once the victim is identified, many just proceed to doggedly harass them for a few minutes, but I've also seen it result in assault, when the chip on the assailant's shoulder is particularly large.
This MO works, of course, because it provides the predator with ample opportunity for rationalization during and after the event.
Since it began by stereotyping the victim as someone who see's the aggressor's minority group as "other", the uncomfortable behavior can be interpreted as racism, and therefore justifies the aggressive actions. "They had it coming." The fact that the aggressors target those of other races, and ignore the possibility that their victim would probably be just as uncomfortable with someone of their own demographic acting the same way, doesn't seem to occur to them.
To avoid such situations, you must acknowledge the person, and respond as if this is the kind of thing you see everyday. You can even be a little dismissive of your would-be aggressor, if you do it in a breezy, joking fashion. Then, keep going about your business.
People don't see me as a target anymore. They did until I was about 20 and I started to fill out a bit. I became even less a target when I took up bodybuilding. Now all my muscle intimidation is gone (lost it all when I fell ill for an extended period) but now I have a gnarly beard and crazy eyes to intimidate with. The decade of martial arts training helps with street confidence. I've noticed that people don't generally attack you when you show no fear. Violent people choose easy targets. They're cowards, really.
I own a medieval english longbow replica with a draw weight of around 50 kg that I used to practice with a lot, it's a lethal weapon up to 200 meters however it's certainly impractical in self-defence situations.
I have some passing interest in sniper rifles and large caliber rifles, but I don't need to own any as it's certainly too expensive and pointless and also impossible given the present regulations in my state of residence. I feel safe where I life, all the major and many minor streets are under surveillance and my home is surrounded with cameras as well (not that it matters in any way, other than for prevention). Assault and especially assault with guns as weapons is unheard of. It's all fine as long as one doesn't push their luck by dealing with the bad crowd or walking the darker alleys at night while drunk etc.
If I ever find myself in the gun-friendly parts of US I may just go to the shooting range to satisfy my curiosity and I guess that would be it.
To avoid such situations, you must acknowledge the person, and respond as if this is the kind of thing you see everyday. You can even be a little dismissive of your would-be aggressor, if you do it in a breezy, joking fashion. Then, keep going about your business.
There's a bully-sport I've seen practiced, by those looking to blow off steam, and identify whether someone "doesn't belong". I've observed it often enough to recognize a clear formula.
Someone, usually a man, but sometimes a woman or a small group, will start acting "off the chain" (usually with little regard for personal space), and wait for someone to appear uncomfortable. Most of the time, the discomfort is expressed by increasing their walking speed, tensing up, and/or pretending to ignore the impossible-to-ignore stimuli. Once the victim is identified, many just proceed to doggedly harass them for a few minutes, but I've also seen it result in assault, when the chip on the assailant's shoulder is particularly large.
This MO works, of course, because it provides the predator with ample opportunity for rationalization during and after the event.
Since it began by stereotyping the victim as someone who see's the aggressor's minority group as "other", the uncomfortable behavior can be interpreted as racism, and therefore justifies the aggressive actions. "They had it coming." The fact that the aggressors target those of other races, and ignore the possibility that their victim would probably be just as uncomfortable with someone of their own demographic acting the same way, doesn't seem to occur to them.
To avoid such situations, you must acknowledge the person, and respond as if this is the kind of thing you see everyday. You can even be a little dismissive of your would-be aggressor, if you do it in a breezy, joking fashion. Then, keep going about your business.
I use to carry a switchblade around with me. Never had to use it though - other than for cutting fishing line and stuff like that. I slept with it one time and when I woke up it was gone
Anyways, its more about knowing how to handle people - rarely will someone just make someone a victim just because. There is usually a motive other than just plain insanity and in those cases where it is just some guy bugging out cuz of drugs or something, as long as you are with or around other people and just act normal you are probably not in much danger. I haven't had too many dangerous experiences (a lot of times doing something crazy that got me cut or something but nothing dangerous with people). Met some scary people but I know just to act natural around them and then they don't really give a fuck about you. The trick is to act calm even if you are about to piss yourself. I guess its one way that my lack of ability to express emotion has actually been a positive.. evolutionary survival instincts and all that.
For some people this doesn't work because they are involved with the community where crime is rampant. I feel for them, because there are not a whole lot of options.
Well, nobody much wears hats requiring hatpins any more, but pinned into your blouse or top these could just look like jewelry. Big decoration = better grip. Definitely give someone pause.
I own all kinds of crap and can legally carry, but don't. The legal carry is to avoid all grey areas when transporting firearms to and from living history stuff. It is just too hard educating gung-ho rooky state police, let alone a Mayberry Barney Fife, on the legal difference between a modern handgun and a .36 caliber black powder Navy Colt reproduction.
I have thought about it, but the reason I do not own a gun is that I know eventually I will have a terrible, terrible day or night and will want very badly to use it on myself. And I know I would do it.
Abraham Lincoln himself said that he refused to carry weapons on him for the same reason, and Ernest Hemingway, macho hard-ass extraordinaire, actually ended up doing it...so I do not consider myself weak for this propensity.
The times I was living on the streets of LA (it was for science) I always carried knives with me though.
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